All language subtitles for Carter.High.2015.720p.WEBRip.x264.AAC-[YTS.MX]

Downloaded from
YTS.MX

- [Commentator] The
Carter Cowboys are the one

of the area's best
teams in the 1980s,

Official YIFY movies site:
YTS.MX

have plenty to prove this year.

Cowboys again virtually
every season rank

among the state's best!

- [Announcer] And again, the
Cowboys line the end zone.

- [Commentator] I'm telling you,
man,

the end zone seems like
for a quarterback.

- [Commentator] I'm wondering
if the Carter Cowboys

will make it to the
state tailgate.

Yeah, you know, virtually
every season like going back

to 1987, they came up short!

- [Announcer] He's to the
five, the four, the three.

He's in. Touchdown Cowboys.

(whistle blows)
(crowd cheers and claps)

- [Commentator] That's
what I'm talking

about exactly right there.

These Cowboys are
ready this year.

- [Commentator] Well, the
Carter Cowboys are undefeated.

Gotta keep that in mind.
Undefeated.

Nobody's beat 'em yet,

and it looks like the
Carter Cowboys

will be the team to be
this year in Texas.

- [Announcer] A fumble on
the plate. Cowboys ball!

(crowd cheers)
(whistle blows)

[Commentator] That defense

is taking no prisoners today,
boy.

Got 11-man posse.

It's putting it down and doing.

* Go *

- [Radio Commentator] Here we
go again. Here we go again.

They gave the game away, okay?

They went by 17 in 4th quarter.

They just gave the game away.

Guess this is a sign of
things to come, y'all.

(laughs) Carter and Duncanville
game ended in a tie.

Are you serious?

One more district game
with the Kimball Knights,

then a quick exit
from the playoff.

(soft music)

(door creaks open)

Freddie, it was just a tie.

(lips peck)
(footsteps shuffle)

(door creaks closed)
(Mrs. James sighs)

("Everlasting Bass")

* Yeah, yeah, yeah *
(muffled chatter and laughter)

* Bass *

* Rodney O, Rodney O, Rodney O *
* Bass *

* DJ Joe Cooley *

* Ba-Ba, ba-ba-ba-ba *

* Bass, bass *

* Ba Ba-Ba *

* Ba-Ba bass *
* Yeah, yeah *

(tires screech)
(engines rev)

* Ba-Ba bass *

* The bass that's in your face
sho'nuff shrugs your face *

* Just like you got
sprayed by a can of mace *

* You see your speaker is movin'
*

* Everybody is groovin' *

* My song moves along *

- (laughs) What's up, D? What
you getting into tonight?

(laughs) Man, you a fool.

- I can't believe we tied
that game tonight, man.

- Tied? Shit, I feel
like we lost.

(engine revs)

(people cheer and clap)

- [Keith] That'll be two
dollars, dawg.

- Man, nah, dawg, that
was a tie, man.

Break yo' self, fool. (laughs)

- Man, your ass play
around too much!

Always trying to act like
a gangster. Thanks, dawg.

Man, what you doing? Come on,
dude.

- Thanks, dawg. (laughs)
* Leave the other show *

* Make the ladies say *
* Oh *

* King of my *
* Castle *

* Causing much *
* Pain *

* You dumb shrimp wimps
it's you I tame *

* So to the R to the O *

* To the D-N-E-Y *
(school bell rings)

(soft music)
(leaves rustle)

Ah. Good game this weekend.

- It was a tie.
- See, that was good, though.

That should keep people's focus.

How do we get a tie, anyway?

- (laughs) Well, the
score we had

and the score the other
team had was the same.

(boys snicker and giggle)

- Now, I know your blind ass
ain't trying to be funny.

- All right, y'all settle
down. Everybody take a seat.

When the bell rings,

I will pass out your
weekly grade reports.

("Piece of My Love")

Derric, stop!

No. Damn, Derric, let's go!

- Why you playing so hard?
- Get off of me!

- Stop! Let's go.
- Stop, quit playing.

- I know you see those
people coming. Let's go.

Move! Get back, let's go!

- Man. I'ma chill
here till lunch.

That's in 10 minutes.

I'ma holla at you later.

* Piece of my love *

This is the last time, for real.

- Jay, you decide on
a school yet?

- Not yet.
- Nope.

(papers rustle)

- Come on, fellas, I need
something for the school paper.

- You should be able to
see where they're going

with them thick
lenses you got on.

(kids laugh)

With your blind ass.

(school bell rings)

(tense music)
(footsteps shuffle)

- What's up?
- Oh, it's nothing.

- I'll catch up with you later.
- All right, cool.

- Mr. Bates, I think you
gave me the wrong grade.

All right. Well, let's see.

(clears throat)

- (clicks tongue) Here we
go. Yeah, see, here it is.

The third week,

you failed to complete
a homework assignment,

so I've given you an NC.

- A what?
- NC.

It simply stands for
not complete.

- So, I didn't get a
grade for the homework?

- Athletes don't get special
treatment in my class.

- Special? (scoffs) I
did the homework.

But you didn't complete it.

- I just wanted you to know
that whenever Derric is late,

it is for a legitimate reason,
okay?

Whenever Derric's late?

Yes, whenever Derric is late.

- Well, Ms.-
- I don't give.

Hey, Gary. How you doing?

- How you doing, Ms. Evans?
- Oh, I'm doing just fine.

Hey, let Derric know that I
handled that for him, okay?

- Okay.
- Let him know

that the money is under
the bread box,

- all right?
- Yes, ma'am.

- All right.
- Gotcha.

- Well, I'll see you.
- All righty.

Okay. Bye, now. (laughs)

(alarm blares)

Okay, so are we good?

I mean, do you need a
note from me or something?

(footsteps shuffle)
(upbeat music)

(drawer slides open)

(laughs)

(drawer slides closed)

- Coach, they didn't have
tuna, so I got you turkey

with peanuts on the side.

- I ain't eat peanuts
since my days at PV.

- Yeah, bad luck, right?
Oh, no, no, I heard.

- Hey, remember when I
hired you and you claimed

to be an offensive coordinator?

- (laughs) Yeah, you said,
"I sure hope you know

how to stop a good offense,

because you're now my
defensive coordinator."

(Freddie laughs)

Look, Coach, I know we can't
expect to give up 24 points

and win the game.

- And defense-
- And defense

wins championships, I know.

[Mr. Russeau] Coach James,

please report to the
principal's office immediately.

But do you know why?

(soft music)
(footsteps shuffle)

- Oh, good afternoon,
Coach James.

(muffled chatter)
(footsteps shuffle)

- How you doing?
- Just fine.

Never expected to see that
tie this past weekend.

You know, a Dallas team hasn't
won state in football since-

1950.

Have a good one, Coach.

(footsteps shuffle)

Whoa! (chuckles)

Okay, who started it?

I said who started it?

It was a accident, Coach.

(scoffs) So how are you

gonna accidentally
start a food fight?

- I thought you was talking
about the fire alarm earlier.

(boys scoff)
(school bell rings)

(paddle slides)

- Mm-hmm. All right.

(tense music)
(paddle smacks)

Come on, I don't have all day.

(dramatic music)

(muffled shouting)

53 on one. 53 on one.

- Ready?
- Break!

(coach claps)

[Boy] 56! Line, 56, hit!

(boys grunt and yell)
(whistle blows)

(men clap)

- Come on, let's hold
on to that ball.

[Boy] Hit! (muffled shouting)

You got him.

Throw another one like that,

I'm gonna put somebody else in,
all right?

[Boy] Yes, sir.

(muffled shouting)
(cars whoosh past)

(knock taps)
(tape whirs)

- What's up, Coach? See
you watching game film.

- [Freddie] What you
still doing up here?

- Look, I just wanted
to apologize

for the whole food fight
incident and apologize

for me and the other teammates.

- Son, do you know why we
study game film?

To find our mistakes!

See what we do well and
where we need improvement!

Or to find the tendencies
of our opponent,

good or bad!

You don't have the luxury
to rewind your life!

So make good choices
the first time!

Any word back on that
summer incident?

Not yet.

(tape clicks and whirs)

(school bell rings)
(traffic hums)

(muffled chatter)

- But you did do the homework?
- Yes, sir.

- And you didn't get a
grade for it?

As for now, I got a zero.

- Mr. Russeau, I think
it would be best

if we have Gary taken
out of Mr. Bates' class

before it's too late.

Well, now, we got a policy

about letting students
transfer outta classes,

especially this late in
the six weeks.

- I definitely understand,
but I'm asking you,

please, to make an exception
under the circumstances.

- [PK] Wait a minute, where
your money at, homeboy?

- I got something
better than that.

- What the hell is that?
- Get out of jail free card.

- Hey, let me get one
- Shoot the damn,

- Keep your voice down.
- Shoot the dice!

(door opens)

(door shuts)
(muffled whispering)

(soft tense music)
(muffled chatter)

Come on, dawg.

Are you gonna shoot the
dice or blow the damn dice?

- Shit.
- Same stuff every time.

Pass this, come on. Pass this.

Now, come on.

Man, swing it my way.
You got love for me, PK.

- Cool, cool.
- You can have it.

- Now, don't get scared
now. What you shootin' for?

I got five on it right
here. Nine, my point.

Nine. I see that.

I like nine.

(upbeat music)

Get up, Derric!

- My bad, Coach.
- Your bad?

- Your bad?
- Yes, sir.

Haven't I told y'all?

You do not shoot craps in
my locker room!

For all y'all who was
shooting craps,

y'all grab the dice and
roll for your points.

- Say, Coach, I was
just watching.

- Oh, you was just watching?
Okay.

Well, I'ma cut you a break.

For those who're just watching,

y'all roll one dice.

(boys murmur)

Uh-uh, uh-uh, Derric. Uh-uh.

Get your ass over there,
assume the position.

(dramatic music)
(paddle thwacks)

(crowd cheers and claps)

- Jessie, we've been
watching you practice.

So what makes you all so
good as a team,

besides your speed, of course?

I'd say our discipline

'cause soon as those
lights come on,

only goal that we focus
on is getting it done.

- Blue 80. Blue 80.
- 20, 20.

What makes us so good? Me.

(muffled shouting)

All we know is my speed.

That's 100 miles per hour.
(laughs)

* I'm a Carter boy, I'm swaggin'
*

- Nah, let me stop playing.
Competition.

Everything we do, we compete.

Every time we touch this
football field,

we compete, compete, compete.

- No, we don't take it easy
during practice. (laughs)

I mean, Coach wants us to,
but no.

We too busy trying to knock
each other's heads off.

- Don't show your coverage!
Don't show your coverage!

* He get picked out *

- All right. There he is,
there he is!

* I ain't showed it yet *

Hey! Hey, now!

What if somebody gets hurt?

(bodies thud)
(boy whoops)

(boy cries out)

- Hurt, somebody else step
up. That's the way it go.

(whistle blows)

And that's it.

All right, all right,
bring it in.

(indistinct shouting)
* It's field to the passing *

(whistle blows)
* One side red and white *

* Other side don't matter, B *

Bring it in.

(muffled shouting)
* Yo, it's game time *

Come on.

* Come on, they ain't got
the right frame of mind *

* Yo, they ain't even got
the athletes *

** Does the star shine bright
on the Friday night lights *

Listen to me.

Nothing worth having is
gonna be easy.

You just can't show up
and think, "That's it."

Ain't nothing free, fellas.
Nothing.

- Coach, you got anything?
- Yes, sir, I do.

I'm gonna need my defense
to stay with me

after closed practice.

(boys groan and murmur)
(upbeat marching band music)

- All right, okay,
okay, all right, listen.

Make sure you stay out of
trouble and be a leader,

not a follower, all right?

- Yes, sir!
- All right, come on, come on.

- Bring it in.
- Bring it in here!

- Bring it in here!
- All right, Cowboys on three.

One, two, three!

[team[ Cowboys!

[Boy] Good job. (whoops)

- Hey, have fun, PK.
- Good luck.

- Where are my Cowboys
at? Where are my Cowboys?

Listen up, listen up, listen up.

Have y'all ever heard
fans cheering,

"Come on, offense,
hold that line"?

[Team] No, sir!

- Have you ever heard fans
yelling, "Offense, offense"

or holding some signs or messing
with some mess like that?

[Team] No, sir!

- Derric, what they yell?
- Defense, Coach.

- They yell what?
- Defense!

- They yell what?
- Defense!

- Have you ever heard
"Offense wins championships"?

[Team] No, sir!

- Yes. Yes.
- Coach?

Huh? What's up, Rod?

- Crowd don't get loud
for the offense.

(chuckles) It's a distraction.

And the quarterback gonna
tell you to be quiet.

- Man.
- Oh, no, no, no.

He all right. He all right.

Come here, Rod. Come here.

Now, you see that
fence down there?

Yes, sir.

I want you to sprint, not jog.

Sprint to that fence and
find me a marble

and do not come back until
you do, you understand me?

Yes, sir.

- 'Cause your buddies
here are gonna be running

until you get back.

(boys groan and protest)

- Let's go! On the 50!
- Man.

You better run, boy!

You won't be starting!
On the 50, let's go!

(whistle blows)

(tape clicks and whirs)

- Guys, the game is all
about adjustments.

Okay, now we win the game
when we adjust

to what they're gonna do
before they even adjust to it.

It's about adjustments,
goddamn it.

What the hell did he just say?

- Man, he talking about
adjustments and adjusting.

- We gotta adjust
- Watch here on this play.

- so we can adjust that
ass just like that.

Hey, come on, y'all!

Derric, what's so
important you wanna share

with the rest of the team?

- Coach, we just over here
talking about adjustments.

- All right, let me worry
about the adjustments.

You worry about learning 'em.

All right, I'm gonna let
you all go home early.

- What?
- Early?

- Listen, when you guys
go home tonight,

make sure you get some rest,
all right?

Quit chasing them
girls all night.

There's gonna be plenty of
time for that in college.

All right? Let's go.

(muffled chatter)

(crickets chirp)
(dog barks in distance)

(soft music)
(Mrs. James sighs)

You okay?

I think I'm losing them.

- (sighs) You know,
all these years,

I've never seen you
take a game so serious.

It was only a tie, Freddie.

- Jessie's parents, they
said he got probation

for stealing that T-shirt.

What?

- Football is supposed to
build character.

It's gotta prepare these
boys for life!

I mean, that's why I do this!

And you are doing a great job.

- Well, not if my boys
are stealing T-shirts.

It was during the summer.

Look, you can't protect
them forever.

- All you can do is
instill good morals

in 'em and hope that they stick.

- Is that enough?
- It's a start.

What about state?

- State will take
care of itself.

You just make sure these boys

have the best
opportunity they can

to further their education.

For free.

- Always want
something for free.

- Uh-uh.
- Mm-hmm.

(crickets chirp)
(muffled speaking over radio)

(door creaks shut)

[Woman over Radio] Suspect's

in a very light Jeep
Wrangler eastbound.

Or they're basically
eastbound but they're north.

(muffled speaking)

- Driver's license and
insurance, please.

(cars whoosh by)
(muffled speaking over radio)

- Carter High School?
- Yes, sir.

- (laughs) Well, I've
been watching y'all

since y'all were freshmen.
(laughs)

Hey, we going to
state this year?

- Oh, no doubt.
- For sure. For sure.

- All right. I'm sure happy
to hear that 'cause I'm

gonna be right up front, too.
(laughs)

But, man, I gotta ask
you a question.

Now, what happened
with Duncanville?

- [Woman over Radio] 4-38, 4-38.

We have a robbery in progress
at 1030 West Camp Wisdom.

- 4-38. Show me en route,
Code 3.

Hey, listen, I'll
holler at y'all.

- Sir.
- Slow this car down.

- Yes, sir.
- Going 20 miles

over the speed limit.

- Yes, sir. Thank you.
- Good luck

on the game this weekend.

- Sir, thank you.
- Thank you, sir.

Man, man, if I hear one
more thing about this tie.

Bro we might as well lost it.

- (scoffs) That's
what I'm saying.

(siren wails)
* Hey *

(energetic percussive music)

* Cowboys, are you ready *

* Cowboys, are you ready *

* I said, are you ready *

* I said, are you ready *

- I understand that, but the
school improvement program

is set up to provide a
productive educational opportunity

- for these students.
- I'm not debating that, sir.

I'm simply saying I've been
using the same grading system

for the last three years.

(kids chant)

(boys hoot)

- The school improvement
plan calls for these kids

to get a grade sheet every week.

- And I give weekly
grade sheets!

- There ain't no way in
the world you

can give these kids a
grade average using symbols

such as NCs and check marks.

* Fuh Dee-oh *
* Hey *

* Fuh Dee-oh *
* Hey *

* Fuh Dee-oh *
* Hey *

* Fuh Dee-oh *
* Hey *

* Fuh Dee-oh *
* Hey *

* Fuh Dee-oh *
* Hey *

Settle down! You settle down!

* Fuh Dee-oh *
* Hey *

* Fuh Dee-oh *
* Hey *

[Boy] Down center, hut!

(players grunt)
(energetic percussive music)

(bodies thud)
(whistle blows)

(crowd cheers and claps)

(flash bulb bursts)
(muffled chatter)

[Clerk] That'll be $19.95.

- Fo' sho'. All right.
- I got you.

- How y'all want to do it?
- Wanna go?

- No, I got that.
- Hey, what's up, fellas?

- What's up?
- What's happening?

How's everything going?

- Good.
- Good, man.

- Hey, good luck in
them playoffs this year.

- Oh, sure.
- For sure.

My man, my man.

- Check this out.
- Appreciate that, man.

- We're gonna do this
one on the house.

- Oh, word?
- Wow.

- Oh man.
- On the house?

- What?
- My man, my man.

- My man.
- Man, thank you!

- My man, hey.
- Hey, appreciate that, man.

- My man, hey. Appreciate it.
- Fo' sho'.

- Hey!
- Enjoy. Enjoy.

Hey. Bring us back that
state championship.

- Not a joke!
- You'll see.

My man.

* Oh-oh-Oh, DWC *

* Oh-oh-Oh, DWC *

* Oh-oh-oh, DWC *

* Oh-oh-oh, DWC *

* Down, down with the sound *

* Down, down with the sound *

* Sound, sound, sound *

* Down, down, down *

* Down with the sound *

* D-D-Down with the sound *

* Down, down with the sound *
(girls chant)

* Sound, sound, sound *

* There's a place in
Dallas known as Oak Cliff *

* Where you can tell
the raff from the riff *

* It's full of them boys
lookin' for the beat *

* Too bad, too bold *

* Hey, CC *

* Too bad, too bold *

* Hey CC *

* Too bad, too bold *

* Hey, CC *

* Too bad, too bold *

* Hey, CC *

* Too bad, too bold *

* Hey, CC *

* Too bad, too bold *

* Hey, CC *

(crickets chirp)
(door opens)

What's going on?

(door shuts)

- They say he failed his
algebra class.

Well, did he?

He said he passed.

- Then who said he flunked,
then?

The UIL!

(muffled chatter and laughter)
(car horn honks)

What you doin', dawg?

Come here, come check
this out, man. Come here.

Get up, dawg.

- Man, listen to
this right here.

- [Reporter On Radio]
Everybody's talking about it.

If you haven't heard the news
story, the breaking news,

the Carter Cowboys,

they've been disqualified
from the playoffs

for apparently using an
ineligible player.

Now, we're gonna keep
you up to speed

and up to date on the
latest information

on the Carter
(muffled speaking).

* I can see it *
* I can see it *

* Clear as the summer's day *

* Damn, I can feel it *
* I can feel it *

* It's standing right
next to me *

* To me *

* The pain and the
time is right *

* To let it wash over me *

* The spirit of a champion *

* I gotta let this
ship run free *

(fist thuds)

(door opens)

- That's your report
card? Let me see that.

(door shuts)

No, no, no, Coach, look.
He did pass.

He got a 72 in algebra.

Gary, you change the
grade on that paper?

- Nah, Coach. That's
the grade I got.

- Did someone else change
the grade on that paper?

- Coach, that's my grade.
Nobody changed nothing.

- Why the hell are they
saying you failed, then?

- Supposedly, the UIL
received an anonymous letter

saying he was ineligible.

- That's bullshit! He passed,
goddamn it!

(phone rings)

Hello.

Yeah, this is he.

Yeah.

I see.

Okay.

All right.

Thank you.

(receiver thuds)

Who was your algebra teacher?

Mr. Bates at first.

Then I transferred to Dr.
Abby's class.

(soft tense music)

(crickets chirp)
(footsteps approach)

(glass thuds)

- Freddie, you need to
eat something.

- They gonna try their best
to make sure we don't play.

- Can they really do that
if he's passed the class?

- They're conducting an
investigation, whatever that means.

- Baby, you always taught
that defense does what?

Hmm?

Defense.

Defense does what?

(exhales) Wins championships.

- Coach, I don't think I
heard that loud enough.

Defense does what?

- Wins championships!
- Exactly!

And as long as they're
investigating, it ain't over.

That fat lady ain't sang yet.

Now, you go on out there,

and you defend your boys,
and you win us state.

You hear me?

(hands smack)
(scene whooshes)

- You guys just hear?
- No comment.

- [Reporter] It was nearly
an hour after the ruling

by the commissioner in Austin

that the official word
reached Carter High School.

Excuse me. Excuse me, ladies.

Excuse me. Excuse me.

Would you mind
giving a statement

on the mood here at Carter High?

- It's crazy how even in
1988, racism still exists.

- So you think this has
something to do

with the school being
predominantly black?

- I bet you if this
school was mostly white,

none of this stuff
would even be happening.

- Well, if he didn't
pass the class-

How you know he failed?

- So far, those are the reports
that we've been receiving.

- Well, as far as I know,
he passed,

and those are the reports
we've been receiving.

Well, there you have it.

Carter has, in fact,

been forced to forfeit
their final three games

due to an ineligible player.

That puts Carter out
of the playoffs

and South Grand Prairie in.

- They done it to us, and
it's the worst way to go out.

(muffled speaking)

- Always been told if they
can't beat you on the field,

they want to beat you in
the classes, so.

- They can't do it. They
wrong about it.

How can they do it the
day before the game?

That's what I don't understand.

- And I think it's a cheap
shot because...

(dramatic music)

- [Freddie] So what am I
supposed to tell my boys?

You say he passed.

Here's a report card
shows he passed,

but the UIL say he failed.

- Well, after the UIL got
its mysterious phone call-

I thought it was a letter!

- In the beginning, it
was a letter.

Then it was a phone call.
Whatever.

Whatever it was, after that,
Bates's records came through.

- Didn't he transfer out
of Bates' class?

- Yeah, but then his records
transferred with him.

- So Abby has a 72, the
UIL has a 68,

and what does Bates have
to say about all this?

- I said no comment!
- But, Mr. Bates-

- But is it true you
alerted the UIL-

- No, I have no comment.
- But Mr. Bates,

don't you worry

- I have no comment!
- about your safety?

- What about repercussions from
the students at Carter High?

- I am absolutely not
worried about my safety.

These are wonderful students,
and I'm-

- Are you sure?
- Let go of my door!

(door slams)

- Now Mr. Russeau
has informed me

that this matter is being
taken up in the court.

(soft music)

However, the DISD refuses
to foot the entire bill,

and there's a meeting
tonight in the auditorium

to discuss the options.

According to the UIL,

we're not allowed to practice

until they get this
thing figured out.

- So, Coach, what we supposed
to do if we can't practice?

You stay focused!

You of all people, you're
a senior! You stay focused!

(birds chirp)

And look here.

Don't let this obstacle
make y'all lose sight

of the real goal, which
starts after you leave here!

Champions!

Champions!

Champions this, champions that!

Oh, they throw that word
around nowadays

like it ain't no big thing
anymore, like it ain't special!

Well, goddamn it, I'm
tellin' you, it is special!

It is a big thing!

A champion walks onto this
field, and you can feel it!

You can see it!

A true champion is a
champion in the heart!

And that's something.

That's something that nobody
can ever take away from you!

That's something

that only you

can give away.

(muffled chatter)

Okay, okay, okay. Listen.

I understand
everyone's frustration,

but at this point, we're
simply waiting

for the district to give
us the go ahead.

Look, all I know is that
these young boys

should not be punished for
some grown man mistakes,

and as parents, we should
make sure that doesn't happen.

Well, you know what?

No matter wherever
the blame lies,

there is not a child at
Carter High School

that is responsible for
what happened.

- Nevertheless, it's
the children at Carter

who are being punished by
DISD's failure

to do what we pay
them taxes to do.

Okay, whoa, whoa.

Unfortunately, DISD is
dropping the ball,

but we're here tonight because
we need to take legal action.

- And the sooner we get a
restraining order motion filed,

we can start with the
proceedings.

- Oh, so, what, you need
some money? Hmm.

I mean, so what is our
guarantee that this legal stuff

is gonna work anyway?
Right.

- The only guarantee I can
give you is that my staff

and I will fight as hard
in the courtroom

as those boys fight out
on the field.

That's the only guarantee
that I can give.

(soft music)

Whatever.

This is my community, too,

and believe you me, it's
not about the money.

It's about those boys,
those young men right there,

knowing that their hard
work wasn't in vain

and them knowing that
they have a village

that will come to their
aid no matter what.

That's what this is about.

(crowd applauds)

So all those in favor

of seeking a temporary
restraining order

that would possibly allow Carter
to remain in the playoffs,

stand up.

(crowd applauds)

- [Royce] And for the
record, UIL stands for?

- University
Interscholastic League.

- And what exactly do you
do for the UIL, Mr. Winston?

- I investigate
complaints related

to the No Pass No
Play law in DISD.

Okay.

So is it fair to say that
you received a complaint

- regarding Carter High School?
- That's correct.

- And when did you receive
this complaint, Mr. Winston?

At the end of the six weeks.

Hmm, well, if I am correct,

I believe that Carter
was declared ineligible

about four or five days after
the end of the six weeks.

So, four or five days, Mr.
Winston?

Yes, I believe that's correct.

Hmm, and where, no,

who did this complaint
come from, Mr. Winston?

Mr. Winston.

Well, sir, we, (chuckles)

we normally don't reveal the
source of our complaints.

(laughs) Oh, normally.

Will you tell that to the
Carter community

and all these Carter kids

- Your Honor, I object!
- who are being affected

- by your hasty decision
- Counsel.

- to disqualify their school?
- I object to this line

of questioning.

That's far from normal
circumstances, sir.

- Counsel-
- Your Honor,

we have reason to believe
that the source

- may be the same individual
- Counsel.

that we attempted

- to subpoena but was assured
- I advise you

- by the UIL
- to settle down

- and other investigative
- before I hold you

- authorities that that
- in contempt

- would not be necessary
- of this court!

- And furthermore, Your Honor-
- Counsel!

(muffled chatter)

- How you ain't see
all this comin'

with them big-ass
glasses you got on?

(boys laugh)

- No, but I did see
your girlfriend-

- [Mr. Russeau] Attention,
faculty and students.

I've just been informed by
the Dallas superintendent

that our football team has
been reinstated

into the playoffs!

(kids cheer and clap)

So congratulations to our
football team,

and good luck in the playoffs.

(kids scream and cheer)

* Hey, CC *

* Too bad, too bold *

* Hey, CC *

* Too bad, too bold *

* Hey, CC *

* Too bad, too bold *

* Hey, CC *

* Too bad, too bold *

* Hey *

- [Reporter] Well, I have just
confirmed that Carter has,

in fact, been reinstated
in the playoffs.

Apparently, the UIL received
some kind of anonymous letter

to recheck one of the
students' algebra grade.

He actually passed the
class on his report card,

but there was supposedly some
kind of miscalculation due

- to him transferring
- Yes!

- from one class to another.
- Yes! Whoo!

- As of now, Carter
- That's what I'm

- talking about, baby.
- will be marching on

- playoff bound.
- in the playoffs.

- Playoff bound.
- Since the reports

are conflicting that,
at this point,

we need to turn the
investigation over for a hearing,

that is, not an
investigation but a hearing,

to the executive
commission in Austin.

And until that's resolved,

Carter High School will
retain their position

as a contender in the
state tournament tonight.

- [Team] Our Father which
art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, thy
will be done

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our
daily bread,

and forgive us our debts
as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil,

for thine is the kingdom,
the power,

the glory, forever.

Amen!

(crowd cheers and claps)

- [Commentator] Edwards
takes the pitch

around the right end.

He's inside the five-yard line.

Touchdown, Cowboys.

A spectacular flip into
the end zone.

Hall under center for
the Cowboys.

A little play action. He's
looking down the right sideline.

He's got a man open. It's Grant.

He's to the 10, the five.

Touchdown, Cowboys!

- [Commentator] (whoops)
A rocket goin' on.

- [Commentator] Wildcats
deep in their own territory.

Quarterback number 12
back to pass.

He rolls around the right end.

He's looking downfield
and it's picked off!

[Commentator] Oh, got it!

- [Commentator] That's
number two, Edwards.

(crowd cheers and claps)

(muffled chatter)
(dice clatter)

(car hums)

- [Boy] Oh, money gone, baby.
Money gone.

- Money gone.
- Come on.

- [Boy] Get that, get that,
get that.

(soft tense music)
(muffled chatter)

(whistle blows)

(truck rumbles)
(footsteps shuffle)

- I'm gonna ask y'all one
more time. Was it worth it?

- [Derric] Weren't even doin'
nothin'! We just threw dice!

- (chuckles) Nah, you
was gamblin'.

(chuckles) and gamblin'
don't build character.

Gamblin' makes you rely on
luck or chance.

Football ain't about
relyin' on luck or chance.

Football is about making
good decisions,

good choices on every
single play.

Now, if you can't learn that
and apply it to your life,

you're wasting my time
and your time.

Why you think we have a
tie on our record?

- (pants) Because we had the
same score as the other team.

Oh, (laughs) no. No.

The choices we made, like you,
Derric.

You saw fit to hit a man when he

was five yards out of bounds

(whistle blows)

and give them excellent
field position.

Or you, Jay, when you chose
to try to pick up a fumble

instead of falling on it like
we practice all the time.

And you, son.

You make a good play
and then decide

to celebrate for 15 minutes.

(muffled shouting)

That is what a tie is.

(crickets chirp)

- All we need you to do
is sign the affidavit.

[Mr. Bates] Look, Mr. Winston,

(sighs) this was not
my intention.

I simply confided in a friend

about a conversation
that I had with my boss.

- Right, and that
conversation led

to an investigation, which
I'm trying to conduct.

- An investigation? You had
the school disqualified!

- What difference does
that make to you?

Now you can sign the affidavit,

or I'll subpoena your
ass to testify!

Your choice.

(footsteps shuffle)
(birds chirp)

- Okay, we're waiting
on a phone call.

So let's...

All right, everybody off
the school bus.

(boys sigh and mumble)
(soft tense music)

(footsteps shuffle)

As of now, we've been
declared ineligible again,

and we're waiting on
a phone call

to see exactly what's going on.

(typewriter keys clack)

What's going on?

I thought we were checking
out and going to the game.

- They just declared Carter
High ineligible again.

- (chuckles) You're kidding me,
right?

- I advise you to put
that coffee down

and help us prepare
these motions.

- But the judge already ruled.
- Against the UIL.

It's from the TEA.

- That's gotta be, like,
double jeopardy or something.

(papers thuds)

- All right, folks, we
have exactly 45 minutes

before the courts close.

It's gonna take us at
least that amount of time

to make it through traffic.

(typewriter keys clack)

We're gonna need at least
three motions.

And honestly, guys, I
don't know what

to expect when we get there.

You mean if we get there.

It's kind of hard to fight

when you can't even
identify your enemy.

So we're gonna prepare a
bullet for all their asses.

(soft music)

[Freddie] All right.

We're back in.

A judge issued a temporary
restraining order

that will allow us to play,

but the game is
rescheduled till tomorrow.

So go home and stay
outta trouble.

I'm heading to Austin for the
hearing, but tomorrow is it.

Tomorrow?

We don't even get to practice

'cause they keep kicking us out.

Now they wanna reschedule
the game till tomorrow?

- Listen, you have
every right to be upset.

Man, come on, Coach.

- Tomorrow night, there's
gonna be some people

across the field you can
take that frustration out on,

especially that quarterback.

- I thought everything
was taken care of.

What's going on now?

- (sighs) This is what you
call political football.

So what's the adjustment?

I guess the adjustment

is don't give them nothing
they can use against you,

or better yet, stay
out of politics.

(footsteps shuffle)
(gear rattles)

- The hardest thing
is not knowing

if we'll be playing or not.

Now, I hate they have to
go through this.

- You think the boys
gonna be okay?

You know, baby,

on that field,

they have this certain
intensity in their eyes

that I've never seen before.

I mean, it's like they're
really locked in, focused.

(Mrs. James chuckles)

I mean, as long as they're
on that field, baby,

I mean, they're so good,
it makes me nervous.

- State?
- State?

State?

(Mrs. James laughs)

They'll beat the Dallas
Cowboys the way they playing!

- Give me some! Give me-
- I heard that!

Hit me again! Hit me!

Okay, Coach!

(both laugh)

Yeah!

Good to see you smiling again.

Yeah.

- [Commentator 1] Man, feel
the atmosphere tonight.

Everybody's ready. I'm ready,
I'm ready.

- You ready?
- Round two

of the Texas State UIL
football playoffs

with the Carter Cowboys taking
on their cross-county rival,

Dallas Samuell.

It looks to be a good
one tonight.

(marching band music)

Cowboys inside the 10-yard line,

lined up in the
wishbone formation.

Give is to Edwards
up the middle.

He's pushing his way through.

He hits a wall at the
five-yard line,

but he breaks free.

Touchdown, Cowboys!

His feet never stopped moving.

Edwards just powered
his way through.

It looked like he was
down at the five,

but he kept fighting his
way, busting through,

and touchdown, Cowboys.

[Crowd] Defense!

[Commentator 2] This crowd

is behind this Cowboy
defense here

as they're looking for a stop.

* Hold that line, defense *

* hold that line *

* Hold that line, defense *

* hold that line *

- [Commentator 2] Samuell
quarterback under center.

He looks. He looks out
to the flats.

The ball's hit by Maston and
finds the hands of Armstead!

(crowd cheers and claps)

Armstead is down the sidelines,

and he's gonna take
it all the way.

[Commentator 1] Whoo!

Tipped by Maston,
intercepted by Armstead

like a thief in the night.

Sweet Jesus, that boy can jump!

- [Commentator 2] And touchdown,
Cowboys. Jessie Armstead!

- [Commentator 1]
Armstead has been the man

on this defense all year long.

- [Commentator 2] No
doubt he's one

of the top linebackers in
class 5A in the state of Texas.

(crowd cheers and claps)

(crowd chants)
(boys hoot)

[Boys] CC! CC!

* Carter, Carter, Carter,
Carter *

* Carter, Carter, Carter,
Carter, Carter, Carter *

(soft music)
(crickets chirp)

- You got a letter
from Notre Dame.

(Jessie sighs)

It upsets me to see
you go through all this

'cause in my eyes, you're
still my little baby boy.

How's Gary doing?

* Jungle boogie *

* More bounce *

* Jungle boogie *

* More bounce *

* Relax your mind, let your *
(radio clicks off)

I know this is hard for you

because it's hard for me
and your father.

But we're both here if
you need anything.

(soft music)

- I keep thinking I'm
gonna wake up

and it's all just gonna
be a nightmare.

- Everything happens for
a reason, baby.

Come on, let's get
something to eat.

(Gary sighs)

(footsteps shuffle)

Mike Adams reporting.

And now for the latest news

on Carter High School's
road in the playoffs.

The Carter Cowboys are
winning on the field

but will soon have to win
in the courtroom again.

Plano Independent School
District has entered

into a lawsuit on the side of
the Texas Education Agency.

Plano East would advance
if Carter High

is declared ineligible.

(crowd cheers and claps)

- [Cheerleaders] Go, go,
Cowboys, play!

- Go, Cowboys, go!
- It's the quarter final game,

and Carter takes on Marshall.

It's gonna be their biggest
challenge of the year.

(fans cheer)
(dramatic marching music)

Hall under center, play action.

Looking down the left
sidelines. He's got Grant.

- And it's caught!
- Woo wee!

Laid that ball in his arms

like a daddy laying
his son down for a nap.

- [Commentator 1] Okay,
here we go.

It's fourth down for Marshall,

and this could be their
final play of the season.

Quarterback drops back.
He's looking down.

He's got Odell Beckham,
and it's caught!

- [Commentator 2]
Lord have mercy!

- [Commentator 1] Touchdown,
Marshall,

and the tide has just changed.

After a big return by Grant,

the Cowboys' backs are
against the wall.

After three unsuccessful tries,

they're facing fourth down
with under 30 seconds to go,

trailing 18 to 14.

Okay, Cowboy fans, it
all comes down to this.

It's fourth down. Hall
back to pass.

He's got Allen across the
middle! Allen's to the sidelines.

He's down the left sidelines,
and he could go all the way!

Is he in? Waiting on
the call from the refs!

- He's in! He's in!
- (whoops) Yes!

(crowd cheers)

- [Commentator 1] And he's
gonna be ruled out just shy

of the goal line.

Timeout, ref! Timeout!

Come on, bring it in!
Everybody, bring it in!

(crowd cheers)

Way to go!

Coach, I'll catch it.

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, baby.

You sure will.

And look.

(soft music)

Regardless of what
happens on this next play,

we had a hell of a season.

A great season!

But you know what?

We've always had a great season!

So right now, we all got a
choice to make!

I want y'all to know
there's this little thing

called destiny, and you
don't get it by, like,

sitting around, waiting for it.

It doesn't come to
you by chance!

It's a matter of choice!

It's something you got to
go out and get!

(crowd cheers and claps)

So what you waiting for?

- Go on and get it.
- Let's go, let's go!

[Commentator 1] What is this?

Armstead is running
onto the field.

- [Commentator 2] Armstead
is lined up at tight end.

Hall back to pass and catches
Armstead across the middle!

Touchdown, Cowboys!
They've done it again!

Jessie Armstead,
All-American linebacker,

checks in at tight end.

Hall drops back, runs a
little tight end dump,

and the Cowboys are on
their way to the semifinals.

A district judge

has blocked the Texas
Education Agency commissioner

from determining
Carter's eligibility.

He's also stopped the UIL

from knocking Carter out
of the playoffs.

That should be a lot
for a team that,

since the beginning of
the playoffs,

has not known if they
are in or out.

(dramatic music)

And we're live from Darrell
K. Royal Memorial Stadium

in Austin, Texas for this
state 5A semifinal game

between the Odessa Permian
Panthers and the Carter Cowboys.

- [Commentator 2] I heard
from a little birdie

that Odessa was trying
to persuade Coach James

to play this game in Odessa.

Hall spins away from a tackle.

He's got Jones down the
left sidelines.

(crowd cheers)

And Jones scampers into
the end zone.

- [Commentator 2] Sweet
feet. Touchdown, Cowboys.

- And it's blocked.
- Oh, he blocked it!

- [Commentator 1] And there's
a scramble for the ball.

- [Commentator 2] Get
it! Somebody jump on it.

- [Commentator 1] And it's
gonna be Panther ball.

Cowboys inside the red zone.

Hall looks across the
middle, and he's got Grant!

Touchdown, Cowboys!

- [Commentator 2] Carter
Cowboys on their way

to their first ever
state championship.

After a 14-to-9 victory over
5A powerhouse Odessa Permian,

the Cowboys are moving
into the state championship

to face Converse Judson.

(soft contemplative music)

- A lot of things have
been out of our control,

but we got the opportunity

to choose

what happens

from this point on.

We got an opportunity
to control our emotions,

control our attitude

and choose our destiny.

So let's go out here and take
advantage of our opportunity.

(hand smacks)

All right, fellas. This is it.

For us seniors, it's
our last chance,

- last opportunity.
- Yeah.

(dramatic music)

- Like Coach James said,
we worked hard for this.

We earned this. This is ours,
not theirs!

Let's go get what belong to us.

- Damn the TEA.
- Yeah.

- Damn the UIL.
- Yeah.

- And damn them fools
across the field from us.

[Boys] Hell yeah!

'Cause tonight is our time.

* Fuh Dee-oh *

* Fuh Dee-oh *

* Fuh Dee-oh *

* Fuh Dee-oh *

* Fuh Dee-oh *

* Fuh Dee-oh *

* Fuh Dee-oh *

* Fuh Dee ho *

* Fuh Dee ho *

* Fuh Dee ho *

* Fuh Dee ho *

Hey, hey, hey, cut that out!

I found out what
y'all been saying!

That's enough of that!

You done got me as an
accomplice in this nonsense!

Everybody in Dallas
yelling that mess.

You knew what the hell
they was saying.

- [Derric] Man, red
dogs on three.

- [Boys] One, two, three.
Red dogs!

(marching band music)
(muffled shouting)

* I'm back in this
bitch with a vengeance *

* And no, I'm not
here by mistake *

* Not a mistake *

* I'm hungry, I'm just
here to eat *

* And I see it's a lot
on the plate *

(crowd cheers and claps)
* Show me your number *

* (indistinct rapping)
Don't worry I will *

* Really I gotta be one
of the specialist guys *

* And you don't understand *

* Back in the day when
you (indistinct rapping) *

* I am the way the man
I gotta check *

* And those people goin'
round and miss *

* I gotta take on the run *

* And sometime they act
like some homie gorillas *

* We did not come here
for problems *

(rapping drowned out
by cheering)

* Just like it hits
like the eyes *

* There's not enough
I can hide *

* Anyone burn all they bridges *

* With me, you'll just have
to get lift from my eyes *

* My team is the best and
they know me *

* The best and don't fret,
I just hit on the squad *

* I want the WIC *

* And whoever
standing beside me *

(whistle blows)
(crowd cheers and claps)

* Out here getting mine
in with the whole squad *

* Every day we trying
to get (indistinct) *

* Making plays, trying to
come up on a gold mine *

* This the season we've been
waiting for the whole time *

(whistle blows)
(indistinct rapping)

* But we working the
whole time *

- [Announcer] Carter Cowboys
are the state 5A champions.

- [Commentator 2] State champs,
baby.

A Dallas team has not won the
state championship since 1950.

- Feeling proud right
about now 'cause we went

through some hard
times to get here.

Feeling proud.

- We knew if we kept playing
football that we would be here,

but we didn't know
about all the UIL stuff.

That's the only thing that's
kept us out of here is UIL,

and now we're here,
and we did it.

Thinking about it, having fun,

and (chuckles) I'm
ready to just jump

off the top of the building,
hang from up there right quick.

* CC, too bad, too bold *

* Oh *

* CC, too bad, too bold *

* Oh *

* CC, too bad, too bold *

* Oh *

- [James] Hey. All right, all
right, all right, all right.

(players whooping)
(muffled shouting)

I just wanna say, just
wanna say this.

As that clock was counting down,

I realize what I wanted

out of coaching after
all these years.

(soft poignant music)

And this championship
means a lot.

But what I want,

what I need

is for you all to leave
here and be successful.

Be successful in every
endeavor of your lives.

Now listen to me, boys.
This is not the end.

This is just a beginning.

And I wanna,

I wanna thank you

from the bottom of my heart.

So, champions on three.

[Group] One, two, three.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, Coach.

- [Freddie] Come on in. No,
come on in.

Come on in.

(boys clap and cheer)

Come on in here.
Come on in here.

- Whoo!
- Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you.

Listen. Listen, boys.

This gentleman, this gentleman
right here fought for us

in the courtrooms so we
could continue

to fight on the field.

(boys cheer and hoot)

Please.

- Guys, you're fighting
for what's right.

That's the goal of team sports,

and you all have
accomplished that goal.

To see so many young men face
and overcome the adversity

that you all have is
nothing short of a miracle.

You all have made so many
people proud, including myself.

- All right!
- Yeah. Yeah!

- Carter High, thank you
for a hell of a season.

A hell of a season!

[Boys] Yeah!

(boys cheer and whoop)

- Whoa, hold on, hold on now.
Hold on.

Okay, I would like to say
on behalf of Carter High

and the Carter High football
team, thank you, okay?

And from one great defense
to another defense,

I would like to present
you with the game ball.

Wow!

(boys cheer and clap)

[Boy] CC!

- Oh, no.
- Oh, no, no.

- You gotta join us.
- Come on in here.

- Come on, Royce.
- Come on in here now.

[Boy] Yes, sir!

(boys cheer and clap)

[Freddie] Champions on three!

- [Everyone] One, two, three,
champions!

(boys whoop)

* Oh *

* CC, too bad, too bold *

* Oh, CC *

* Too bad, too bold *

* Oh, CC *

* Too bad, too bold *

* Oh, CC *

* Too bad, too bold *

* Oh, CC *

* Too bad, too bold *

* Oh, CC *

* Too bad, too bold *

(mid-tempo R&B music)

- [Derric] Man, you
heard from Jay?

- [Gary] Oh, I hollered at
him day before yesterday.

You know he been busy
with school and shit.

But he said he gonna catch
up with us after graduation.

* Tweedledee, Tweedledum *

- Man, you sure
Vincent's still here?

- Yeah, here that fool
come right now.

[Gary] Crazy fool.

- What up, D?
- What up?

- What up?
- 'Sup, baby?

- Man, I know one of
y'all finna get

out of the car and
get this food.

- Man.
- You gonna take our order?

- You paying?
- Paying?

- Exactly. Get out the
car and get the food, man.

(doors open)

Hollywood D. (laughs)

- Hollywood.
- You know it, baby.

- Ooh!
- Ungrateful ass, man.

Oh, season over with, fellas,

so this, uh, fringe benefit
stuff gonna have to cease.

- You know we appreciate you,
dawg.

- It's friend benefits.
There's a difference.

- Whatever, man, same thing.
- Trying to tell you.

I be trying to tell him,
G. He don't listen, though.

(boys laugh)
(doors shut)

(engine starts)

* Last time we got busy,
your body got numb *

* And now you're beatin'
like a big bass drum *

* You're in position *

(door opens)
(muffled whispering)

- Can y'all believe we
actually won state, though?

Bam. Look, loc, you gonna
have to hold up, a'ight?

'Cause you messing up my
concentration.

- They still treat me like
a celebrity up there, Jay.

Ah, for real?

- Man, will y'all
please shut up?

- He actually got robbed
the other day.

They took money from
everybody up there except me.

Oh, for real?

(papers rustle)
(muffled whispering)

- I see you're on that
pool table again.

Dinner's almost ready, and
you're welcome to stay.

[PK] Oh, okay.

- Thank, Ms. Campbell.
- Thank you, Ms. Campbell.

- Say, Mama, you got
$20 I can borrow?

- Boy, what did you do
with your allowance?

[Keith] Shut up.

(boys laugh)

- You done.
- No, I got notes.

- Cash only, homeboy. None
of them pink passes, man.

- Well, shit, I can take
a couple of those, man.

- Your ass got some money?
- I mean, not right now.

- Right. What I thought.
- Man, both of y'all broke.

I got robbed and got more
money than both of y'all.

(laughs)

Yeah, whatever, PK.

- Say, man, is y'all
hiring up there?

Man, I doubt it.

We got enough fools up
there getting paid

to do nothing, man.

But I can hook y'all up, though.

(gun rattles)
(tense brooding music)

Man.

- Man, dawg, somebody gonna
blast your ass for real,

you keep running around
with that little toy.

- This toy can get
your ass paid.

- Hey, man, PK, you're
crazy, man, for real.

(tongue clicks)

- Say, you talking
about robbing?

Kinda.

Oh, kinda?

- It'd be robbing me. Well,
I mean, not robbing me.

- You robbing the store.
- Man, hell no, PK.

That shit's stupid, man.

- That shit dumb, man.
- Nah, man.

Nah, you stupid, dawg, for real.

- Man, I'm telling you,
this shit's easy.

Two to three minutes, in, out.

(laughs)

* More bounce *

* Jungle boogie *

* More bounce *

* Jungle boogie *

* More bounce *

* Jungle boogie *

* More bounce *

* Relax your mind, let
your conscience be free *

* And get down to the
sounds of EPMD *

* Well, you should keep
quiet while the MC rap *

* But if you tired, then
go take a nap *

* Then go take a nap *
* Go take a nap *

* Or stay awake and
watch the show I take *

* Because right now, I'm
about to shake and bake *

* The E-R-I-C-K is my
name I spell *

* Thanks to the clientele,
yo, I rock well *

* I'm not an MC who
talking all that junk *

* About who can beat who,
sounding like a punk *

* I just get down, and
I go for mine *

* Say check one, two,
and run down the line *

* To the average MC, I'm
known as the Terminator *

* Funky beat maker,
new jack exterminator *

* Destroy and employ when
your rhymes are not void *

* Never sweatin' your girl *

* Why, P * * 'Cause
she's a skeezoid *

* When I'm on the scene,
I always rock the spot *

* I grab the steel with
the crown on top *

(crickets chirp)
(trash bag rustles)

(door shuts)

(bags thuds into dumpster)

(footsteps shuffle)

- Get your ass back in
there and don't say a word.

(dramatic music)

(PK laughs)

- Hey, man, PK, chill out
before they find out you

in on this, man.

What you doing?

What's up with the pantyhose?

I told y'all to wear
stocking caps, man. (laughs)

Hey, PK. For real, man.

- This is your bright-ass idea
- Okay, okay,

- anyway.
- Okay, okay, okay.

You owe us, man.

- For real, man, come on.
- Okay.

- Y'all sure is takin'
a long time

gettin' this place cleaned up.

Maybe if we had a little help.

Any time the manager leave,

you act like you
can't do nothing.

But eat them damn fries.

Nigga, you ain't nothing
but a shift manager.

- Which means
- Get your hands up.

- when the manager's gone,
I'm in charge.

(tense music)
(fry crunches)

As a matter of fact,

since day one, day one,
you've been fucking up.

- Everybody get your ass
on the goddamn ground!

- You, too, man, get
on the floor.

- Uh-uh, uh-uh. You.

You get your ass up, big boy.

(shift managers stammers)

I'm just...

- In charge?
- Yep. Mr. HNIC.

(muffled whispering)

- (whimpers) I'm just a
shift manager.

Yeah. Yeah, right.

Now shift your ass over there

and put the money in
the goddamn bag!

Come on, hurry up!

(bag rustles)
(laughs)

Come on, big boy.

Yeah, all of that, too.

- Come on.
- Come on!

Yeah, and then that, too.
Come on.

Come on, big boy.

- Get your fat ass
to the ground!

- Don't y'all move.
- Come on.

(footsteps shuffle)

(door opens and shuts)

[Reporter] The Carter Cowboys

won the state
championship a month ago,

and you could've held
a convention

on the sideline of the
Cowboys' practice field.

That's where recruiting
coordinators gathered daily

to catch a glimpse of the team

that could produce more recruits

than any other team in the
state of Texas,

maybe even the nation.

This year's Carter team
appears ready

to climb the ladder of success.

That leaves only one
thing left to say.

This is a class by itself.

(car rumbles)

(crickets chirp)

- I told y'all, just
like clockwork.

- Man, Keith, how long
you been working here?

(laughs) About a week.

So y'all go ahead,
get suited up.

(tense brooding music)

Say, PK, give that toy
to Los. Run with this.

[PK] Man, this real?

- Don't worry, it
ain't even loaded.

(dramatic music)

Hey, man, for real.

All y'all, this the last time,
all right?

Y'all taking this shit
way too far, man.

(laughs) All right, nigga.

(door opens)

(footsteps shuffle)
(door shuts)

(dramatic music)

(door shuts)

[PK] Get in. Get back in, jet.

Go on. Go, go.

Go on. Go on.

(door shuts)

* That chick there a starter *
(muffled chatter)

* Brewster go to Carter *

* She gon' let me get it *

* Soon as she drop off
her daughter *

Damn, fellas!

Ooh, look like y'all had
a nice Christmas, huh?

Yeah. It was a'ight. (laughs)

Excuse me, Derric. Hey.

Keith, you mind if I wear
your jacket till last period?

- I'm a little cold.
- I ain't even trippin', baby.

- (giggles) Thanks.
- Mm-hmm.

Mmm-mmm, good.

Oh, I was just
admiring the jacket.

Is that all?

- And I was wondering if
there was any more room

for me in those jeans.

(giggles) Maybe.

[All] Damn!

- It's like that?
- Must be the shoes.

(boys laugh)

Girl, I want to...

Hey, I just want to know,

is there any room for me
in these jeans?

- And I was wondering if you
ever heard of a peppermint.

(boys whoop and laugh)

- Say, dawg, I guess it ain't
the shoes, then, huh? (laughs)

- Hey, it's all good,
dawg. Real talk, man.

- All right, then, dawg.
- All right, then.

- Breath mint, dawg?
- "Nice Christmas"?

What you mean, "nice Christmas,"
dawg?

Man, what you talkin' about?

Thought you knew, brah.

Knew what?

("Flash Light")

* Now *

* I lay me down to sleep *

* Ooh *

* I just can't find a beat *

* Flash light *

* Oh, I will never dance *

* Flash light *

* Flash light *

* Flash light *

* Bah-dah-dah-Dee *

* Bah-dah-dah, ah-dah-dah-dah *

* Oh, it's no use *

* Flash light *

* Red light *

* Neon light *

* Ooh, stop light *

* Now I lay me down to sleep *

* I guess I'll go
count the sheep *

* Oh, but I will never dance *

* Oh, don't make me do it *

* Dance, sucker *

* Ooh, ha-ha, get him *

- No less than 18 Carter
football players

are headed to four-year colleges

or universities on full
scholarships.

Just one more area where
no other high school

can beat Carter.

- I almost got you. You
couldn't keep up, boy.

- Nah, man.
- You couldn't keep up.

- I ain't gonna never
let no old man get me.

- Who you calling old?
- Come on, baby.

Come on, I still got it.

- Shoot.
- Old man, old truck.

(laughs) That's what you think.

That was a damn good workout.

Pretty sweet.

You know why we come out here?

Not only does it make us
better athletes,

but it makes us better men.

Now, you made your choice
when you decided

to suit up and play
for the Carter Cowboys.

I don't know, I guess
what I'm saying is...

(airplane roars overhead)

Hold up. Hold on, hold on.

If you didn't have football,
what would you be doing?

(truck engine roars)
(soft contemplative music)

(video game trills and beeps)

You want the receipt in
the bag or with, all right.

Thank you. Have a nice day.

Got another quarter?

(door opens)

(pants unzip)

(urine splashes)

(thuds loudly)
(dramatic music)

[Vincent] Damn!

You scared the hell out of me,
brah.

(door opens)

(water runs)

So what's up?

- My manager's still out there,
dawg.

- (sighs) Thought you said
he's supposed to be gone.

Shit, he is.

This nigga out there playing
goddamn Ms. Pac-Man, brah.

- You said this was gonna
be easy, dawg.

- How long you think he
finna be here?

- You don't know.
- I don't know.

- Walk in, get the money,
then we good.

- G.
- That's what you said, D.

- G, if Keith and them can
do this shit, I know we can.

Whatever, dawg.

- (sighs) Vincent, go on,
get behind the counter.

Let's do what we gotta do.

- Y'all sure about this?
- Yes, I'm sure.

(soft tense music)

All you gotta do is go up to
Vincent and get the money.

I'm-a take care of the manager.

You in or you out?

(Ms. Pac-Man game
beeps and trills)

Nigga, give me all the money!

- Get your punk ass
on the ground.

You, too, bitch. Get
on the ground.

- Get on the ground!
- Hurry up!

Move!

"Just one more game."

- Save that shit for later.
- "This is it, the last-"

[Derric] Shut the fuck up.

(bag rustles)

Get your ass on the ground!

Come on.

(crickets chirp)

- Man, you niggas done
lost y'all damn mind.

- Jay, I'm telling you, dawg,
it's easy.

Ain't like we really
robbing the place anyway.

All we gonna do is walk
in, get the money, and we-

- Man, I'm still on
probation for a $15 T-shirt.

My teacher'd kick my ass.

I made a promise, dawg,
not to mention my old man.

Hell no.

- It's like being back on
the field, dawg. It's a trip.

We walked into this one place,

and the chick at the
register, she knew us, right?

Fine, too.

- So I asked her,
"What would you do

if we was gonna rob this place?"

Shit, she said, "Give
you all the money

and anything else you wanted,
anything."

So D said.

Well, we robbin' it, baby.

(soft dramatic music)
(footsteps shuffle)

(register clicks and whirs)

Then wrote her phone number on
one of the bills. (chuckles)

- Just like that?
- Just like that.

Just like that. It's nothing.

What's up, fellas?

(boys laugh)

- Man, where your big-ass
bifocals at? It's nighttime.

They're called contact lenses.

They kind of work like glasses.
(chuckles)

- I will miss this fool. For
real, I'm gonna miss you, dawg.

Got your ropes and everything.

- A'ight, dawg.
- A'ight, G.

(laughs)

- Take it easy, dawg.
- Ropes and chains.

- What you gettin' into tonight?
- Yeah.

- Chillin'. Got a 9:00
to 5:00 in the morning.

Oh.

- So tell your girlfriend
we can't kick it tonight.

Ooh! (laughs)

- Boy, I'll spur you in
the back of your head.

- A'ight.
- A'ight, man.

- Oh, man.
- Look, straight up.

What you gonna do?
Barbecue or mildew?

- Do you know you can ask
your mama for money whenever?

Shit, you, too, G.

- But you think I'm finna
go to my mom's

to ask for money to shake
you niggas up in a dice game?

- Ha!
- OPM, dawgs.

OPM.

Jay, look.

It's probably gonna be the
last one. Is you in or you out?

- Last one. Damn, how
many has it been?

- [Derric] Asking too many
questions, homeboy. (laughs)

- Meet me at 1:00 if
you're down.

(soft tense music)

- It's barbecue or mildew,
big boy!

(boys laugh)

- 1:00.
- Let's ride, G.

(car doors close)

(birds chirp)
(knock taps)

Come in.

Hey, how you doing, son?

I'm all right.

I was driving by and I
saw your truck,

so (sighs) I thought I'd
stop by and check on you.

Yeah, well, relax.

Hey. You didn't stop by to
apologize for something, did you?

(laughs) No, sir.

(soft music)

- I guess you're a little
nervous about going off to school.

Well, you're gonna be okay.

You've made a good choice.

Sir?

- You couldn't stay
here forever, son.

(Jessie sighs)

Listen.

You just remember
everything you learned,

and make room to learn more.

And stay humble.

Stay humble inside.

Appreciate it, Coach.

(hands pat)

And by the way,

they say we're gonna have
a better team next year.

(scoffs) We'll see.

* All right, you kids get to
bed * * I'll get the story *

* Now here's a little story
that needs to be heard *

* Word, word, word, Rick *

* Y'all tucked in *
(footsteps shuffle)

Derric!

Gary!

* Once upon a time
not long ago *

(tires screech)

* and justice stood *

* And people were behavin'
like they ought to good *

Hey, Derric, Gary!

* Misled by another little
boy, and this is what he said *

* Me and you, Ty, we
gonna make some cash *

* Robbin' old folks and makin'
the dash *

* They did the job, money
came with ease *

* But one couldn't stop,
it's like he had a disease *

* He robbed another
and another *

* and a sister and a brother *

* Tried to rob a man who
was a DT undercover *

* The cop grabbed his *

- Hey, hey, Coach?
- Hmm?

I got it. I got it.

Your defense is your offense.

Now, a good defense
leads to an easy offense,

which puts the offense in
a better position. (laughs)

Mm-hmm.

It's a mindset, Coach.

"As a man thinketh in
his heart, so is he."

You can only defend something
that you already possess.

So the more the team believes
they're already champions,

they have already won
in their mind

and now have
something to defend.

Hence, defense wins
championships.

Yeah.

* Sirens sounded, he
seemed astounded *

* And before long, the
little boy got surrounded *

* He dropped his gun, so
went the glory *

* And this is the way I
have to end this story *

* He was only 17 in a
madman's dream *

* The cops shot the kid,
I still hear him scream *

* This ain't funny, so
don't you dare laugh *

* Just another case about
the wrong path *

* Straight and narrow
or your soul gets cast *

* Good night, good night *

* Good night *
* Knock 'em out the box *

* Knock 'em out, Rick *

* Oh, boy, that Uncle Ricky *
* Knock 'em out the box, Rick *

* is really weird *
* Knock 'em out, Rick *

* I know, right *

* What does he mean
straight and narrow *

* Knock 'em out the box, Rick *
* or your soul gets cast *

* Knock 'em out, Rick *
* I don't know *

* I think he be crackin'
up or something *

* Knock, knock, knock, knock *
(Derric sighs)

* Knock, knock, knock, knock,
knock *

(footsteps shuffle)

- Driver's license
and insurance.

(chuckles) Nah, man, I'm
just trippin'.

(muffled speaking over radio)
(officer laughs)

- [Woman over Radio] Be
advised, suspects are armed.

Stand by for description.

- Hey, why don't you
do me a favor?

Will y'all sign this for me,
please?

- Absolutely, yes, sir.
- Yes, sir.

- [Woman over Radio]
Suspects in the video store

- are two black males
- You have a pen on you, sir?

- about 17 or 18 years old.
- Oh.

Sorry about that. Here you go.

- [Woman over Radio] One is
about six two or six three

- [Officer] Carter High
School, State Champ!

- [Woman over Radio]
Other suspect is stocky

and about five nine, five 10.

- Now, you're going to
Tennessee, right?

Yes, sir, the Vols.

- Suspects are armed.
- And you're going to U of H?

Oh, yes, sir.

(officer laughs)

- Yes, sir.
- All right. Oh.

- [Woman over Radio] The
suspects were last seen

heading westbound-

- Hey, I'll be looking
out for y'all, all right?

- I'm so proud of you.
- Thank you.

And proud of the neighborhood.

- Yes, sir.
- Appreciate that, sir.

- We all proud of you.
- Yes, sir.

- Y'all have a good one, okay?
- Yes, sir, thanks.

- You, too.
- Suspects were driving

an '87 or '88 candy
apple red Corvette,

no plate at this time.

(loud rumbling dramatic music)

("Stay Strong")

* See, we can never *
* Never *

* Oh *
* Stay strong *

* Stay strong *

* Stay strong *
* Oh *

* Never *
* It's never you *

* So if I am hurting *
* Stay strong *

* Stay strong *

* We here, we in here *

* We salute, we salute *

* So hard, so hard *

* Oh, hard *

* We come *

* So far *

* Baby, the night's so cold *

- This was gonna be
the last one.

* In a room so dark *

* And the light is so dim *

And they both pregnant.

* It might cause others
to come out *

(footsteps approach)

(keys jingle)

- [Guard] Edwards.
You made bail.

(door slides)
(soft poignant music)

(Gary sniffles)

(door slides and clangs)

(keys jingle)

(heels clack)

(thud echoes)

- Believe me, I'm not
saying that the boys

are not guilty of something.

I just want to make
sure that you know

that these are not your
typical aggravated robberies.

- Royce, I understand
that boys will be boys.

And you know you're
much better suited

to decide their fate
than some emotional jury.

(cup thuds)

- The rule of law affects
not only those involved

but those who observe.

(laughs) Come on, Joe.

You know, we both know
the rules of law.

I just wanna make sure that
if my request for probation

is nowhere close to where
you're leaning,

just give me an opportunity
to prepare my client.

That's all I'm asking you, Joe.

(lips smack) Fair enough.

(hand pats)
(footsteps shuffle)

(Royce sighs)

(doorbell rings repeatedly)
(Mrs. James sighs)

- If they ring this
doorbell one more time.

Do they not have any
consideration?

- I got it, baby, I got
it. I got it, I got it.

All right.

(doorbell rings)
(footsteps shuffle)

(doorbell rings)

(door opens)

- Coach James, have any
of your players told why-

- If you press my
doorbell one more time

and disturb my wife, I
promise you that

will be the last
microphone you ever hold.

(birds chirp)
(dog barks in distance)

(door creaks shut)

- [Male Reporter] The former
Carter High football stars

were arrested for investigation

of two holdups at two
video rental stores.

Police say the pair
matches the description

of two bandits who took
cash and tapes at gunpoint

from two video exchange outlets
in South Dallas on Tuesday.

(birds chirp)

(leaves rustle)

All rise.

(chairs and feet shuffle)

Judge Kendall presiding.

You may be seated.

(chairs and feet shuffle)

- Gentlemen, all the evidence
in this case indicates

to me that your true
motive was the most common

of all motives for
crime, and that is greed.

And despite all of the
media and public attention

that this trial has received,
today, here in my courtroom,

you are nothing more than a
bunch of common criminals,

(people groan and murmur)

criminals that went out
and pulled guns

on innocent,
hard-working citizens.

You terrified them, you
took their money,

and you did this because
it was simply an easier way

to obtain money than to
actually go out and work for it.

And even though you never
shot or killed anyone,

as defendants before this court,

you communitively have committed

in the last six months
more armed robberies

than Bonnie and Clyde
did in their entire life.

(people groan and murmur)

And for that reason, I
intend to make it very clear

here today that even
rising star athletes

are not above the law.

When I call your name,
would you please stand?

Mr. Evans.

Son, when it comes to
violating the law,

it simply doesn't
matter that you

can run a football
down the field.

And for the robberies
you committed,

I sentence you to four
20-year terms

- in the State,
- What? No!

- in the State Department
- No, no, no!

of Corrections, all to
be served concurrently!

(gavel bangs)

Order in the courtroom!

(women sob)
(muffled shouting)

- Order in this courtroom!
- What?

- I will have order.
- You don't do that!

- Order in the courtroom!
- No! That's my baby!

- Order in this courtroom!
- No! That's not fair!

(woman cries)
(soft poignant music)

- Order, please, ladies
and gentlemen.

- That is not justice,
- Order in the courtroom.

- [Mrs. Evans] to take
our babies away!

(indistinct) get out of here.

- That is wrong!
- Mr. Edwards,

would you stand, please?

For the robberies you
have committed,

I sentence you to three
16-year terms

in the State Department
of Corrections,

all to be served concurrently.

You may be seated.

(footsteps shuffle)

You may be seated. Mr. Campbell.

- Jessie, do you have
a statement?

Do you have anything that
you can tell us? Son,

I believe you have some serious
psychopathic tendencies,

and, frankly, you scare me.

For that reason, I am sentencing
you to four 25-year terms

in the State Department
of Corrections,

all to be served concurrently.

Be seated.

Mr. Allen, for the robberies
you have committed,

I sentence you to three
13-year terms

in the State Department
of Corrections,

to be served concurrently.

(muffled speaking)
(people sob)

Be seated.

Mr. Williams.

For the robberies you committed,

I sentence you to three
14-year terms

(muffled shouting)
(woman sobs)

in the State Department
of Corrections,

all to be served concurrently.

("God's Good Grace")

* Ooh *

* Oh, Lord *

* Uh-huh *

* Sometimes you can
trust nobody *

* And it's hard to understand *

* The people that you
love the most *

* Will knock you
where you stand *

* So you do all you can *

* To take away the pain *

* Cover it up when all *

* the world has to offer *
(woman sobs)

* Until all you feel is shame *
(muffled shouting)

* But you know I'm,
I'm holding on *

* To God's good grace *

* But you know I'm *

* I'm holding on *

* To God's good grace *

* Oh, yeah *
(muffled shouting on TV)

* Folks will turn their
backs on you *

- [Male Reporter] Some
who were better able

to control their emotions.

* And they'll kick you
when you're down *

* Make you feel like the
sun won't shine *

* Until you're not around *

* So you do all you can *

[Male Reporter] (muffled
speaking) reactions to the prison-

* To hide away the fear *

* You cover it up when all
the good time can bring you *

* Until you disappear *

* But you know I'm *

* I'm holding on *

* To God's good grace *

* But you know I'm *

* I'm holding on *

* To God's good grace *

* I'm holding on *

* To God's good grace *

* You know I'm *

* I'm holding on *

* To God's good grace *

* And no matter *

* No matter what I'm
going through *

* I know *

* No matter how lost I get *

* I know *
* I know *

* That the Lord is with me,
yes he is *

* Oh, yeah, Carter red *

* Oh, yeah, yeah, Carter red *

* Oh yeah, yeah, Carter red *

- Just know it's
always a situation

where you have a fine
line in life,

and sometime you step
across that line,

it can cost you very dearly.

You see them guys had
scholarships

to every univ you can think of,

and to get that taken away,

that was a sad moment
for all of us

and still a sad moment today.

- It's been 26 years
since that fateful day,

September 22nd, 1989.

I can still hear the
screams from the courtoom.

I would never play ball again.

My confidence was never shaken.

I played my losing hand because
folding was never an option.

Today when I look back,
I'm proud of where I stand,

but you have a choice not to
make the same mistake I did.

As time has passed,

I haven't always made the
right decision,

but I have come to
understand that one mistake

or making an ill-willed decision

not only affects that
particular person,

but it affects those that
are around him as well,

whether it's close or
whether it's afar.

And that's what hit home for me

and caused me to wanna
be a different person.

- But what helped me
when I got out,

because I was raised in church.

Mama raised me and my
brothers in church,

and one of the things I
knew that I had

to give my life to Christ
in order for me

to be able to stay out,

in order for there to be balance

'cause I was not gonna go back.

I applied for two
jobs this year.

They was very excited about me.

And I sat down with the
owner of the company,

of the company, and I
told them this.

I said, "Listen. This
is who I am right now.

I've been married for 21
years. I have five kids.

I'm a youth pastor, and
I'm an assistant pastor.

This is who I am now, but I
have a criminal background

that happened 27 years ago."

And so he was very excited
about the interview.

Never heard from him.

Young black men in America,

one of the things that
would always follow you

would be your record.

We ask young black males,

we have to make the right
decision the first time.

- We all had our little
quirks here and there.

We were all great kids.

And you tell that kid
right now, "You know what?

You got to find a way to
talk to somebody.

Talk to somebody and just
do not make that mistake

because one mistake
can cost you."

One time, actually, a couple
years ago, I played in the NFL,

and a lady asked me to
hold her baby.

And her husband was like,

"Them guys you played
with at Carter,

they were some criminals,
weren't they?"

I'm like, "They were
identical to me,

and you asked me to
hold your baby."

And just realized they
were no different.

They slept in my house.
I slept at their house.

So it was no
difference in and them.

I just made the right
decision at the right time.

If I would have gotten in
that car that one time,

then I would've got 20 years
in a maximum-security prison,

and they were looking for trying

to tie with something like that.

* I ain't who they said I was *

* I kept messing up 'cause
I was scared I was *

* The preachers, the teachers,
the cops *

* They all got to me *

* I was a leader in the
crowd pretending not to be *

* You ever feel or ever felt
like we been more conditioned *

* Poor position, poor
people make poor decisions *

* You ain't who you
thought you was *

* You're who you're
taught you was *

* Hood brought us up till
the cops caught us up *

* Yeah, they was anxious to
tell us that we ain't shit *

* People that supposed to help
tell you what you can't get *

* They tried to tell Malcolm
X to be a carpenter *

* They even tried to tell
Barack he was a foreigner *

* They told me my career
was dead, call a coroner *

* Then we rolled Glory on
they ass, I'm a warrior *

* We want to give music *
* Yeah *

* Trauma, we live through it *
* Yeah *

* Don't think the pain and
setbacks is all it is to it *

* I could give them the
codes to every lock *

* They still wouldn't
figure me out *

* I could turn myself in *

* Run to the cops *

* They still wouldn't
shut me down *

* I'm a mastermind *

* Oh *

* Oh *

* I'm a mastermind *

* Somebody *

* Oh *

* Oh *

* I'm a mastermind *

* I ain't who you think I am *

* I love women, I talk shit *

* I'm a drinking man *

* Catch me on the wrong day,
I ain't a thinking man *

* You ain't seen a freer
nigga in the Lincoln land *

* Damn, I am who you know I is *

* I don't just talk, yo *

* I throw a shoulder kiss *

* My father's burden was heavy *

* I had to shoulder his *

* They say he don't open doors *

* He's a chauvinist *

* I am, I am, I am who
you know I am *

* They watching me drinking
wine outta soda cans *

* Yeah, I walk like Jesus *

* Chi's my Bethlehem *

* When I step in the room,
niggas know to stand *